CHAPTER XLV
was with this general atmosphere prevailing that the
time was drifting toward that uncertain December
5, 1871, the day set apart on the court docket for Cow-
perwood's trial. Aileen had been periodically bringing
him news concerning the attitude of her father, which
made it perfectly clear that Butler was not through with
him, and would not be, in all likelihood, unless he chose
to leave Philadelphia permanently, or unless Butler
should die. The election being over and Stener and
Cowperwood properly indicted, and Butler's young pro-
tégé, Dennis Shannon, elected to the office of district at-
torney (in which direction it was plain to Cowperwood
that great injury might be done him), the old man was de-
termined to find some additional thing which would further
his campaign against the young banker and result in
eliminating him from the city and the life of Aileen en-
tirely. One thing that occurred to him was the fact that
the particular Judge Payderson to whose court Cowper-
wood's case had been assigned was one of those judges
who owed his position to the influence of the politicians.
Payderson should be given an opportunity to learn that
Cowperwood was deserving of punishment. Beyond
Payderson lay the State Supreme Court and the gover-
nor, where Butler's word, or the fact that .he had been
injured by Cowperwood, would be of great weight. He
need not speak directly—but there were plenty who
would talk for him.
The plan of buying out some of Cowperwood's credi-
tors—particularly those who held street-railway stocks—
had remained in Butler's mind and finally been acted
488